Programs/Classes

American Red Cross Parent & Child Aquatics is designed to orient young children (from age 6 months to about 3 years) to the water. It is not designed to teach children to become good swimmers or even to survive in the water on their own. Parent & Child Aquatics gives parents safety information and teaches techniques to help them orient their children in the water.

Appropriate support while holding child in the water.

How to prepare and encourage child to participate fully and try the skills.

Water safety topics

Adjustment and water exploration

Choose and use a lifejacket

Blow bubbles

Supported front and back float

Preschool Level 1

The objective of Preschool is to help children feel comfortable in the water and to enjoy the water safely. Elementary aquatic skills are taught which children build on as they progress through the Learn to Swim Program. Recommended ages 4-5 years old.

Front and Back Movement

Water Exploration

Front and Back Float (with support)

Front and Back Glide (with support)

Exit Skills: Preschool skills can be performed with support.

Enter independently, using either the ladder, steps or side, travel at least 5 yards, submerge to mouth and blow bubbles for at least 3 seconds then safely exit the water. (Children can walk, move along the gutter or "swim.")

While in shallow water, glide on front at least 2 body lengths, then roll to back and float on back 3 seconds then recover to a vertical position.

Preschool Level 2

The objective of Preschool Level 2 is to have success with fundamental Skills. Participants learn to float without assistance and to recover to a vertical position. This level is the beginning of locomotion skills. Participants learn to develop simultaneous and alternating arm and leg actions on their front and back that lay the foundation for future strokes. As in all levels they learn additional safety skills and improve their understanding of previous skills. Recommended ages 4-5 years old.

Perform front and back movement

Front and back float for 5 sec unassisted

Front and back glide for 5 sec unassisted

Perform correct front crawl kick

Perform fining with kicks on back, roll to front and swim with freestyle arms at least 15yards in deep water.

Exit Skills: Preschool Level 2

Step from side into chest deep water, move into a front float for 5 sec, roll to back,float for 5 sec and recover to a standing position.

Perform 4 to 5 strokes of freestyle arms with kicks, roll over and perform 4 to 5 strokes of fining with kicks on back across deeper water.

Preschool 3

The objective of Preschool Level 3 is to help children feel comfortable in the water and to enjoy the water safely. Elementary aquatic skill are taught which children build on as they progress through the Learn to Swim Program. Recommended ages 4-5 years old.

Performs bobs with rhythmic breathing

Water exploration, change of direction of travel while swimming

Front and Back Floats and Glides unassisted

Swimming front and back and diving from the side of the pool

Tread water independently

Exit Skills: Preschool Level 3 skills are performed without support.

Step from the side into chest deep water, move into a front float for 10 seconds, roll to back, float for 10 seconds then recover to a standing position.

Learns correct breathing for freestyle and be in a complete prone position in the water.

Dive into water and perform freestyle for 10 to 15 yards across deep water.

Level 1

Learn To Swim Level 1 is designed to learn basic personal water safety information and skills, to help participants feel safe and comfortable in the water and to enjoy water safely. In Level 1, participants learn elementary aquatics skills, which they build upon in later levels.

Front Glide, 2 body lengths

Back Glide, 2 body lengths

Roll From Front to Back

Alternating Arm and Leg Action On Front, 2 body lengths

Alternating Arm and Leg Action On Back, 2 body lengths

Exit Skills: Level 1 skills can be performed with support.

Enter independently, using either the ladder, steps or side, travel at least5 yards, submerge to mouth and blow bubbles for at least 3 seconds then safelyexit the water. (Children can walk, move along the gutter or "swim.")

While in shallow water, glide on front at least 2 body lengths, then roll to back and float on back 3 seconds then recover to a vertical position.

Level 2

The objective of Level 2 is for participants to gain success with fundamental skills. This level marks the beginning of true locomotion skills. Participants continue to explore simultaneous and alternating arm and leg actions on the front and back to lay the foundation for future skills.

Fully submerging and holding breath for 5 seconds

Combined arm and leg actions on front, 5 body lengths

Combined arm and leg actions on back, 5 body lengths

Treading using arm and leg action, 15 seconds

Level 2 Exit Skills:

Step from side into chest-deep water, move into a front float for 5 seconds,roll to back, float for 5 seconds then return to a vertical position.

Move into a back float for 5 seconds, roll to front then recover to a verticalposition.

Push off wall and swim using combined arm and leg actions on front for 5 body lengths,float for 15 seconds, roll to front then continue swimming for 5 body lengths.

Level 3

The objectives of Level 3 are for participants to learn survival float, the elementary backstroke and to coordinate the front crawl. Participants also learn rules for headfirst entries and begin to learn to enter the water headfirst from the side of the pool.

Front Crawl, 15 yards

Elementary Backstroke, 15 yards

Tread Water, 30 seconds

Rotary Breathing, 10 times

Headfirst entry from the side in a kneeling position

Level 3 Exit Skills:

Jump into deep water from side, swim front crawl for 15 yards, maintain position by treading or floating for 30 seconds and swim elementary backstroke for 15 yards.

Level 4

The objectives of Level 4 are to develop confidence in the strokes learned in previous levels and to improve other aquatic skills. Participants improve their skills and increase their endurance by swimming strokes learned in previous levels for a greater distance. The back crawl and the breaststroke are introduced, as well as basics of turning at a wall.

Front Crawl, 25 yards

Breaststroke, 15 yards

Butterfly, 15 yards

Front Crawl Open Turn

Backstroke Open Turn

Level 4 Exit Skills:

Perform a feet-first entry into deep water, swim front crawl for 25 yards, change direction and position as necessary and swim elementary backstroke for 25 yards.

Swim breaststroke for 15 yards, change direction and position as necessary and swim back crawl for 15 yards.

Level 5

The objectives of Level 5 are to coordinate and refine strokes. Participants refine their performance of all the strokes and increase their distance. Flip turns on the front and back are also introduced.

Front flip turn while swimming

Front Crawl, 50 yards

Breaststroke, 25 yards

Butterfly, 25 yards

Elementary backstroke, 50 yards

Back Crawl, 25 yards

Level 5 Exit Skills:

Perform a shallow-angle dive into deep water, swim front crawl for 50 yards, changedirection and position of travel as necessary and swim elementary backstroke 50 yards.

Swim breaststroke for 25 yards, change direction and position as necessary and swim back crawl for 25 yards.

Level 6 Personal Water Safety

The objectives of Level 6 Personal Water Safety are to refine strokes so participants swim them with more ease, efficiency, power and smoothness over greater distances.

Front Crawl, 100 yards

Back Crawl, 50 yards

HELP Position, 2 minutes

Survival Float, 5 minutes

Huddle position, 2 minutes

Level 6 Personal Water Safety Exit Skills:

Swim 500 yards continuously using any 3 strokes of your choice, swimming at least50 yards of each stroke.

Jump into deep water, perform a survival float for 5 minutes, roll onto back and perform a back float for 5 minutes.

Perform a feet-first surface dive, retrieve an object from the bottom of the poolat a depth of 7-10 feet, return to surface and return to starting point.

Level 6 Fitness Swimmer

The objectives of Level 6 Personal Water Safety are to refine strokes so participants swim them with more ease, efficiency, power and smoothness over greater distances.

Front Crawl, 100 yards

Back Crawl, 50 yards

Circle Swimming

Using A Pace Clock

Demonstrates Various Training Techniques

Level 6 Fitness Swimmer Exit Skills:

Swim 500 yards continuously using any 3 strokes of your choice, swimming at least 50 yards of each stroke.

Perform the Cooper 12-minute swim test and compare results with the pre-assessment results.